For most of the 20th century, you basically couldn't buy this bourbon in the country that makes it.

He's often called the man who invented bourbon. He probably didn't. Here's what's actually true, and what's in the bottle.

Maker's Mark's 2026 Wood Finishing Series release, tasted after three years of lost interest in the series. Tasting notes, the BEP comparison, and an honest verdict on whether it's worth chasing.

Walk into almost any liquor store and you'll find 1792 Small Batch sitting quietly on the shelf. It isn't allocated, it doesn't come in a fancy bottle, and it rarely dominates bourbon conversations. Yet year after year, it continues to earn a place in one of the most competitive price ranges in whiskey.

The 15 best American whiskeys of 2026 actually worth your money — bourbon and rye you can find and afford, from bottled-in-bond bargains to high-rye pours.

I can't say I grew up knowing much about the brand. When I first started drinking bourbon, I was firmly in the Jim Beam camp. In our group of friends, there was only one die-hard Jack Daniel's fan, and over time even he graduated to Gentleman Jack. But that's about as "premium" as our shelves ever got. Woodford Reserve simply wasn't part of the conversation.

In 1984 Elmer T. Lee bottled one barrel by itself and accidentally invented modern bourbon hunting. The history behind Blanton's, Warehouse H, and the stoppers.

The first time I ever tried it was on my first guys' trip to Kentucky. We ended up with a pour of the 2019 Shenk's alongside the 2021 Bomberger's Declaration, and at the time I honestly didn't know much about either bottle. I just knew they were annual releases from Michter's that seemed to have developed a loyal following.

Unlike most bottles that land on my shelf, this one doesn't come with decades of history or a long list of previous releases to compare it against. In fact, 1792 Kentucky Straight Rye is the first-ever straight rye whiskey to join the brand's permanent lineup, making it one of the newest additions to the 1792 family. Rather than simply putting a rye mash bill into production, Barton 1792 took a thoughtful approach to developing this whiskey. Master Distiller Ross Cornelissen

Named for a stretch of rich farmland along the Kentucky River, Rock Hill Farms is one of Buffalo Trace's most elusive single barrel bourbons. Like Blanton's, Elmer T. Lee, Hancock's Reserve, and Ancient Age, it's built from the distillery's famous Mash Bill #2—a higher rye bourbon recipe that Buffalo Trace has never officially disclosed but has become legendary among bourbon enthusiasts. For years, Rock Hill Farms quietly lived in the shadow of Blanton's and Elmer T. Lee, yet

Bourbon A whiskey made in the United States from a mash bill containing at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak containers, distilled at no more than 160 proof, entered into the barrel at no more than 125 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. No flavoring or coloring may be added. Straight Bourbon Bourbon that has been aged for at least two years and contains no added flavors or colors. If it is less than four years old, an age statement is required. Age Statement T